We’ve all heard the praises sung about cheap European healthcare, but don’t assume this will be the case if you travel abroad! As an American, travel insurance will save you plenty of money and cover any unexpected gaps in treatment. Here’s what to look out for when you’re shopping for travel insurance for Europe:
Is Travel Insurance Required?
Not everyone who travels to Europe needs to have travel insurance. For example, American tourists have the right to visit Europe for up to 90 days at a time without a visa or insurance. But if you want to stay longer than that amount of time, part of the visa process for most countries includes a mandate for travel insurance.
Benefits of Travel Insurance for Europe
If you end up needing medical treatment when you’re traveling abroad, you can save a reasonable amount of money by having travel insurance ahead of time. This can also bring added peace of mind if you’re visiting a country where you don’t know how to navigate the healthcare system or understand the primary language spoken there.
But more than just healthcare costs, travel insurance can also help cover incidentals related to unexpected cancellations as well as theft. The latter can be especially worrisome for high-value items you wouldn’t be able to replace easily, such as a laptop, tablet, or camera equipment.
Common Coverage for Travel Insurance
One of the reasons that buying travel insurance can be so challenging is because it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal; there are all kinds of different coverage options available. The best plans will cover these common risks:
Trip cancellation and interruption: If you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason, such as a death in the family, insurance can help you recover the costs.
Emergency medical expenses: If you’re taken to the emergency room by ambulance, good travel insurance will cover it.
Dental: Some insurance plans also extend to dental care.
Catastrophic healthcare costs: The biggest medical emergencies can financially devastating, but a good travel insurance plan will help with that.
What to Avoid in Travel Insurance
Assuming that “travel insurance” automatically covers everything is a huge mistake. Without fully understanding everything that a plan covers, you run the risk of being caught off-guard in a vulnerable moment.
That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around, read each document carefully, and even consider talking to the provider to understand exactly what their policy covers. And don’t fret if you’ve already made a purchase; many policies have a “cool-off” period where you can cancel without consequence.
The Bottom Line
Before you commit to any travel insurance policy, make sure you know everything there is to know about it. Is the premium refundable? How does the policy handle bookings added later to a package deal? Is the insurance company licensed in your state? Travel always involves risks, but doing your homework and asking questions can eliminate many of them.
